Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Missouri Drug Task Forces Seize a Lot of Money and Don't Keep Close Records Of Where it Goes

When drug task forces in Missouri confiscate money and valuables during narcotics investigations, they keep about 80 percent of what they seize through a federal asset forfeiture program. They are supposed to document what that money is used for, whether it's new equipment, overtime, or other expenses.

However, the form they fill out is vague and the drug task forces themselves say they aren't sure where much of the money goes without the help of accountants to figure it out.

According to Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force 2013 asset forfeiture report, which was obtained by Aaron Malin of Show-Me Cannabis through a Missouri Sunshine request, more than $141,000 out of $204,991 in seized assets spent by the task force was put in the "other" category.

The only fully disclosed expenditures was $21,982 for "Overtime" and $41,157 for "Travel and training."

Categories such as "Communications and computers, "Weapons and protective gear," and other items were blank. But $141, 851 were placed in the undisclosed "Other."

Sergeant Mark McClendon of the SEMO task force tells Daily RFT that such a big chunk of money has to be placed in undisclosed category because the other categories aren't specific enough.

"Where would you place 'vehicles?'" he asked rhetorically. He's right. There's no proper section for vehicles, which was the biggest expense of the $141,851.

McClendon says the SEMO task force spent $80,000 on three trucks and $10,000 on a car.

About $15,000 was spent on "contractual stuff, an annual audit, and accounting fees," he adds.

And $12,000 was spent on special equipment McClendon says he could not disclose, including a "piece of equipment used for interdiction on the interstate" and another piece of equipment used to take data off cell phones during search warrants.

But that still left about $23,000 that was unaccounted for. McClendon says he didn't have any details on the rest of the money, but says it was used on "general supplies - things to keep the office running."

When Malin sent another Sunshine request last week to the SEMO task force, he was told that the information would cost hundreds of dollars to obtain.

"It will take in the neighborhood of 2-3 hours to further detail the expenditures within the general 'other' category from page 3 of the equitable sharing report," McClendon writes in an email to Malin and reviewed by Daily RFT. "The accountant's hourly rate is $120.00 per hour. In addition, our Administrative officer would need to be involved and her hourly rate is $20.19. Basically we would break down our 'other' category into more detail. The total cost would be between $280.38 and $420.57."

For more info on seized assets and to see the report, click on the next page...